The Original Star Wars: A Live Tweeting

Hey guys,
It’s been quite a while since I updated the blog, but I wanted to post my live tweeting of the original Star Wars.
First off I wanna say that live tweeting a movie is not an easy task. Props to those who do it regularly. I hadn’t done it before and honestly it was kind of taxing. It takes longer than you realize as you start and the movie keeps on going while you’re typing.
I had to pause the movie a lot at first until I started getting the hang of things and so you can see towards the end I got a lot looser and also some of the tweets got a lot shorter.

The version of Star Wars I live tweeted was the original theatrical version. This is the first one from 1977 with no EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE title, just the logo to the opening crawl.

It was just something I did for fun. It’s long, but most of you know the movie by heart so I’m sure you can follow along no problem.
It’s not G-Rated, so prepare for some dirty words. Overall it’s just me gushing about the movie with my own commentary thrown in here and there relating to the characters & storyline.

This is in chronological order to make it easy to read since on Twitter you have to read it backwards from bottom to top.
Anyways, enjoy the read & feel free to follow me on Twitter @_allthestarwars and/or leave me a comment at the bottom of the page.

This crawl is the best one written. It encapsulates so much of what is going on in such a great way that you're instantly in that world with little to no effort. Good guys, bad guys, justice and pursuit! #StarWarsLiveTweet

The opening shot is one of the most classic of all time. The small Rebel ship later overshadowed by the MASSIVE IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER! If you look up "epic" in the dictionary you'll see a photo of this shot. #StarWarsLiveTweet

So here we meet C-3PO & R2-D2. Our first step in to a larger world.OK that was corny, sorry. But it's interesting that this is our gateway in to #StarWars. It's genius really. And it inspired A LOT of filmmakers – as it was inspired from previous films of course. So cinematic.

The threat of the Imperials is so present as you hear all those crazy sounds and then the doors blast open and the Stormtroopers just storm the ship firing! Right off the bat you're just given this whirlwind of fighting with laser guns & robots running around and then BOOM!

#DARTHVADER walks in! Shit just gets real. Then we slow down to Leia recording her message. It is really a well edited film. John Williams music too is just so perfect for the mood. It just carries you through the whole thing and keeps you grounded emotionally. #StarWarsLiveTweet

Jump back to the Princess. She's a fighter. From the start Leia is all rebel. It's awesome. I always had a crush on her for sure. Growing up she was, in my young mind, the perfect woman. Strong, tough, honest, but still caring, loving & endearing. Oh and she's gorgeous! #StarWarspic.twitter.com/aQvVPxNEG7

The visual F/X in this movie still hold up really well. They don't try to do stuff that's too crazy. There is a lot of implication in the shots – but there's definitely enough f/x shots to sell it big-time! Groundbreaking of course, especially for the mid 70's!#StarWarsLiveTweet

#DarthVader VS #PrincessLeiaThis scene has the best dialogue. Carrie Fisher is so invested in her character that you can't help but be all in at this point.Then Vader's response "Leave that to me."He's so saucy in this film. No nonsense. Cavalier even. #StarWarsLiveTweet

#StarWarsLiveTweetAnother iconic scene. R2 & 3PO walking across the desert from the escape pod. It's such a jarring transition from the spaceships. Desolation. It's really such a beautiful film. These two are also the best duo. Like an old married couple. And then we're off!

#StarWarsLiveTweetI always thought the dinosaur skeleton that 3PO comes across was a Krayt Dragon. I don't know if it is or not – I'm sure there's a comic or book that explains it or tells the story of this creature. I have no idea. I just think it's a Krayt Dragon.

#StarWarsLiveTweetAnd then you get introduced to the Jawas. Alien creatures. Mysterious. Mischievous. And our hero is blasted & carried away.George Lucas did such a good job of painting this tapestry of a Universe. It's really well done.

#StarWarsLiveTweetThe "lived in" look is what really makes Star Wars feel real. It gives it enough of a visceral experience that it lends itself to feeling like this place really exists – or could exist. From the clothing to the ships to the buildings.

#StarWarsLiveTweetThis menagerie of droids is great too. It's like every scene you see something you've never seen before. It's pretty amazing. And then our heroes re-unite! It's classic storytelling & it flows seamlessly.OK I'm gushing, but god damn I love this movie.

#StarWarsLiveTweetLuke is us. We don't get to go play with our friends because we've gotta do chores. As a kid we were locked in to Luke's character. Holy crap, he's just like us! LOLBut Mark Hamill plays it off so naturally you can't help but feel Luke's pain.@HamillHimself

#StarWarsLiveTweetBIGGS! I don't remember how I knew, but as a kid I had seen photos or read about the deleted scene with Biggs. I always felt like I had insider knowledge knowing about Biggs when a lot of other people had no clue other than him being at the end of the movie.

#StarWarsLiveTweetWHEN WORLDS COLLIDE! Luke sees Leia's message and he's instantly infatuated. Wouldn't you be? What better way to motivate our young hero than with his libido! But in the end it's not his sex drive that pushes him but the loss of his family.@HamillHimself

#StarWarsLiveTweetEnter: Tusken Raiders.These guys are scary and cool at the same time. Not something you'd want to meet down a dark alley. The costumes are perfect. Nomadic desert scavengers. Are they humans? Aliens? Something else? I enjoy the mysteries #StarWars creates.

#StarWarsLiveTweet And then Ben Kenobi makes his Krayt Dragon call which makes the Sand People run away. I know I read that in a book. Either the novelization or the storybook.And then we see him pull his hood back and OMG! It's BEN KENOBI!

#StarWarsLiveTweetI really love Sir Alec Guinness as Ben Kenobi. You want the guy as your grandpa! And again, @HamillHimself flows through the dialogue with ease.And we get this little bit of backstory & Ben's comment,"Oh he's not dead. Not yet."And then he drops knowledge.

#StarWarsLiveTweetAnd now we learn about Anakin Skywalker. When I watch this movie I don't even think about the prequels. I'm instantly transported back to being a kid & the thoughts I had when I first heard the stories of Ben & Anakin."Before the Dark Times…" LOVE IT!

#StarWarsLiveTweetAnd then Ben's lie. I love that they made Vader Luke's father, but it totally kills this great story Ben tells Luke about how Vader betrays and murders his father. It's dark. Almost darker than him being Luke's father.And the lightsaber. pic.twitter.com/1hHYsby0Af

#StarWarsLiveTweetBen is pretty non-chalant about handing Luke such a dangerous weapon. Luke swings it around like it ain't no thang."Oh this? Yeah I got a stick at home I swing around. It's cool. I got this!"LOL he just acts more fascinated than anything. @HamillHimself

#StarWarsLiveTweetAnd then we watch Leia's full message. More backstory revealed (you served my father in the Clone Wars) & one of my favorite Ben lines:"I'm getting too old for this sort of thing."And then reality sets in and Luke's like, "I can't help you, sorry."

#StarWarsLiveTweetMEANWHILE ON THE DEATH STAR:Nothing like a room full of bad guys to set the tone. Some great shots in this scene too.And then Tarkin & Vader just stroll in like bad asses. Vader in his black robes. We learn that Vader takes orders from Tarkin.

#StarWarsLiveTweetBurning dead Jawas. Such a somber scene. And the music totally sets the mood. And we learn more about the Sand People!Sand People ride single file to hide their numbers.Got it!In case I ever get lost in the Jundland Wastes I'll be set!

#StarWarsLiveTweetNext we have one of the darkest moments in all of #StarWars.Luke drives up to his burning homestead only to discover the charred remains of his Aunt & Uncle – the only family he has ever known.Talk about fucking dark!It's the catalyst though!@HamillHimself

#StarWarsLiveTweetLuke's moment where he tells Ben "there's nothing for me here now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father."GOOSEBUMPS!! haha seriously that shit is delivered so effortlessly and full of emotion. Damn.@HamillHimself

#StarWarsLiveTweetTake the droid scene in the Jawa's sandcrawler & crank it up to 11! We have a true menagerie of aliens, characters & creatures like we've never seen before!I'm unclear about some of George's later changes w/ aliens in this scene, but I like all the originals.

#StarWarsLiveTweet"He doesn't like you!"I can't watch this scene without thinking about #RobotChicken now – but it's still a great scene. Never understood why a lightsaber wouldn't cauterize the wound, but hey, what do I know about alien blood!

#StarWarsLiveTweet"Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon."This entire exchange between Ben & Han is awesome. You get a complete vibe of who Han is as a character and the second reference to Luke being a good pilot. #foreshadowing (kinda)

#StarWarsLiveTweetC-3PO just rips in to R2. R2 had to have done some bad shit to him in the past. 3PO just hates him it seems like – until the end and he's offering to donate parts to save him.Total old school married couple.

#StarWarsLiveTweet"What a piece of junk!"Something about the Millennium Falcon just screams sexy to me. I love the ship design & everything about it. From the name to the mandibles to the engine whine – it's gorgeous!But Luke has to play it off, I know. Deep down he's jealous.

#StarWarsLiveTweet"Stop that ship! Blast 'em!"All hell breaks loose and I think it's in this moment that Han realizes he's probably gotten in over his head. But fear not, cuz Solo is on the case!Check out his maneuvers!

#StarWarsLiveTweetAnd now Tarkin reveals what a true piece of shit he really is.But Leia isn't worried. She throws insults at him like he's a waiter at a restaurant.But Tarkin's resolve does not waiver. He gets the info he wants and still blows up her homeworld.Savage.

#StarWarsLiveTweetBen feels a great disturbance in the Force. Luke trains and Han quips.It's a nice breather as we take a minute to gather our thoughts on everything that's transpired.The hologram chess set looks great even by today's standards. It fits.

#StarWarsLiveTweetHan expresses his attitude towards hokey religions and ancient weapons and then after his back and forth with Ben drops his own knowledge:"Good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living? That's something else."

#StarWarsLiveTweetThose poor scanning crew guys. I wonder if they just shoved them in the floor compartments and totally forgot about them.I could see Chewie a couple weeks later freaking out about the smell and Han going, "I don't smell anything!"

#StarWarsLiveTweetI love the exchange between Luke & Han in this scene. Luke sounds crazy. Han's like WTF is wrong with YOU?! WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!Then Luke plays in to his greed and it's like, "You better be right about this." Han is so quick to run in to danger for $.

#StarWarsLiveTweetThe Mouse Droid & Chewie exchange is a great example of Star Wars humor. It's subtle but effective. It's not overly corny or out of place, it's fit within the context of the situation and plays very well.That's all I'm going to say about that.

#StarWarsLiveTweetHan's entire conversation over the intercom is one of the greatest moments in #StarWars history. Harrison Ford does such a phenomenal job playing that off."We're fine, we're all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?" *wince*

#StarWarsLiveTweetMore backstory and exposition on the Jedi. And then Vader's sudden obsession with Obi-Wan. "Escape is not his plan! I must face him, alone!"Tarkin's like, "yeah, whatever bro – do what you need to do."

#StarWarsLiveTweetLeia's exchange with Han is great."He's the brains, sweetheart!"She just grabs Luke's gun and blows a hole in the grate."Somebody has to save our skins!"Take charge woman! I like that!

#StarWarsLiveTweet"What an incredible smell you've discovered!"This scene is another iconic one that has a specific aesthetic to it. It feels very claustrophobic, especially when the walls start moving in.Not to mention the Dianoga (a name I only know because I'm a nerd).

#StarWarsLiveTweetOne of my favorite moments is when Threepio is on the intercom w/ Luke & R2 is able to stop the walls from crushing them & they're yelling with joy & 3PO says, "Listen to them, they're dying R2! Curse my metal body I wasn't fast enough!"Such a great line!

#StarWarsLiveTweetLeia shines in this scene where she realizes she's been rescued by 2 idiots and their dog. Han suddenly realizes out of everything that's happened to them this might the worst of it:"No reward is worth this."

#StarWarsLiveTweetLuke & Leia end up in quite a pickle. Luckily Luke finds a grappling hook in his belt.Oh whatever, it works.Then the kiss!! "For luck!"That's not what Luke thought. I bet he felt like a hero right then and there!Pirate swing & scene!@HamillHimself

#StarWarsLiveTweetMore backstory between Vader & Kenobi. I really don't like the prequels for messing all this up. Always noticed Ben's saber was a little "flimsy" in this scene. I'm sure it's just the angle it was shot at, but as a kid I thought it was because of weak powers.

#StarWarsLiveTweetThen Luke is moping about Ben while Leia (who recently lost her entire family AND HOMEWORLD) is comforting him.She's awesome. Setting aside her own grief to console this stranger who just rescued her. It's what makes her a great leader! 😉

#StarWarsLiveTweetSpace battle!! Love the Tie Fighter shots in this sequence. The pacing of this scene is great too. Lucas pulled footage to make a blueprint for them to go off of and it really sells it.And you might think, only 4 Tie Fighters? But then Leia explains….

#StarWarsLiveTweetLucas is pretty good at quickly explaining why things will work."The Empire doesn't consider a small, one-man fighter to be any threat, or they'd have a tighter defense!""Where did you hear that? Are you sure that's the case? Because it seems unlikely!"

#StarWarsLiveTweetThe F/X with the X-Wings flying towards the Death Star are amazing. They're not perfect, but they fit the aesthetic of the film & it works. It doesn't feel out of place at all.Down to 15 minutes until destruction!

#StarWarsLiveTweetAnd we keep seeing Biggs who we heard about in passing previously. By the end of the movie I think we all realized Biggs was Luke's friend from Tatooine. Cutting Biggs' scenes was necessary, but it did confuse the Biggs storyline a bit at first.

#StarWarsLiveTweetSo Luke, you just blew up the Death Star! How do you feel?"Got kissed twice today by a Princess, but did lose my family & mentor to the Empire so I'm feeling a little burnt out I gotta tell ya."R2's OK! A truly happy ending. It makes you feel good!